Kenya gets UK backing on the fight against ivory trade. [Photo: buzzkenya.com]Kenya’s determination to end all trade in ivory seems to have yielded fruits after the UK revealed plans to ban the trade.
Making the announcement in Nairobi, UK’s head of prosperity team and deputy permanent representative to the UN John Hamilton told the media the ban is on course.
“UK has played a leading role in tackling the illegal trade in ivory and rhino horn and across all species,” Hamilton is quoted by the Star.
UK’s announcement comes barely six days after China banned the trade, the Star notes.
Kenya has been pushing for a total ban on ivory trade, warning the trade risks wiping out elephants.
Current UK law allows trade in ‘antiques’ carved before 1947, but the government is slowly bowing to pressure and will ban sale of ivory regardless of age.
It has become the world’s leading exporter of legal ivory carvings and antiques in recent years.
An Environmental Investigation Agency report showed there were more than 36,000 items exported from the UK between 2010 and 2015.
This is more than three times that of the next biggest exporter - US.
In October last year, Environment Secretary Michael Gove announced that there was consultation going on to end the trade in ivory of all ages.Kenya has vowed not to relent till there is a complete ban of ivory trade worldwide.